Apparatus adapted for the removal of leaves and grass and the like



1953 s. A. SHULER, JR., ET AL 2,627,155

APPARATUS ADAPTED FOR THE REMOVAL OF LEAVES'AND GRASS AND THE LIKE FiledApril 1, 1949 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 33x qlarjenceE. Ccgjofi,

M, Pa 4A ATTORNEYS.

Feb. 3, 1953 s. A. SHULE'R, JR., ET AL 2,6 7, 5

APPARATUS ADAPTED FOR THE REMOVAL OF LEAVES AND GRASS AND THE LIKEATTORNEYS.

9W) 5 m 6 5 3 W N s 5 gy fwiiwf w w r, a 5 6 2 m 8 1 w H 3 7a. m A 7 m ij Z 4 5 l hfl ll 11||| I M H L h 0 u 2 llii 1 & F| 1| l 6 M/ 7 n 8 o. ww c p 9 6 0 p n l 6 2 Z w m n 7 M n w 6 0 u p a 4 flw S, A. SHULER, JRET AL APPARATUS ADAPTED FOR THE REMOVAL OF LEAVES AND GRASS AND THE LIKEu o u 2 J 1| W 6 2 F 4 2 Feb. 3, 1953 Flled Aprll 1 1949 swam 5 1953 s.A. s ULER, JR., ET AL 2,627,155

APPARATUS ADA TED FOR THE REMOVAL OF LEAVES AND GRASS AND THE LIKE FiledApril 1, 1949 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 EW- q? 46 ClanenceE. Gag op},

ATTO n n 5Y8.

7 Sheets-Sheet 7 ET AL 5. A. SHULER, JR.. APPARATUS ADAPTED FOR THEREMOVAL OF LEAVES AND GRASS AND THE LIKE Feb. 3, 1953 Filed April 1.1949 Patented Feb. 3, 1953 APPARATUS ADAPTED FOR THE REMOVAL OF LEAVESAND GRASS AND THE LIKE Sanford A. Shuler, J r., and Clarence E. Crofoot,Schenectady, N. Y.

Application April 1, 1949, Serial No. 84-,914

11 Claims.

This invention relates to material handling apparatus, and moreparticularly to power driven apparatus for the collection anddisplacement of snow, grass and the like.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a simplified yethighly efiicient material handling apparatus of novel construction anddesign.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an apparatus adaptedto pick up and collect dispersed material, and entrain and direct suchmaterial in a controlled manner.

A further object is to provide an apparatus adapted to pick up anddisplace material in a controlled manner with but a single handling ofsuch material.

Still another object is to provide an apparatus adapted to collect,entrain and direct material, in which the path of material flow iscontinuous and smooth, without abrupt change of direction.

Another object is to provide an apparatus adapted to pick up and entrainparticulate material from storage bins or the like, and to direct suchmaterial in a controlled manner to loading or packaging facilities.

Yet another object is to provide an apparatus adapted to cut orcomminute material, and collect and direct the comminuted material bymeans of a controlled fluid stream.

Another object is to provide an apparatus adapted to remove and collector redistribute snow, grass, leaves and the like, with or withoutcomminution thereof.

Still another object is to provide an apparatus adapted for thespreading or dispersal of seed,

fertilizer, insecticides and the like.

Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed outhereinafter.

The invention and the novel features thereof may best be understood byreference to the following description and the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a preferred embodiment of the instantinvention, mounted and arranged for employment for the removal of snow,grass, leaves and the like;

Figure 2 is a front elevation of the apparatus of Figure 1, with certainparts omitted for clarity and with parts partly broken away;

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the appartus of Figure l, with the outerside plate partially broken away;

Figure 4 is a central vertical section taken on the line 4-4 of Figure1;

Figure 5 is a sectional plan view taken substantially on the line 5-5 ofFigure 3;

Figure 6 is an exploded view of the pump mounting and driving elements;

Figure '7 isan elevation of the pump bafile;

Figure 8 is a section on the line 8 -8 of Figure 7;

Figure 9 is n end elevation of the centrifugal pump of the apparatus ofFigure 1;

Figure 10 is a transverse sectional view, partly broken away, takensubstantially on the line I0'l0 of Figure 1;

Figure 11 is an enlarged fragmental sectional view correspondingsubstantially to Figure 4;

Figure 1-2 is a fragmental section taken on the line l2--l2 of Figure11;

Figure 13 is an enlarged fragmental view of means for adjusting thesetting of the casing blade;

Figure 14 is an enlarged elevational view taken on the line I l-l4 ofFigure 10, and

Figure 15 is an enlarged side elevation, partly broken away, of theclutch mechanism shown in Figure 14.

Referring to the drawings, the apparatus comprises a casing formed bythe inner side plates 20, inner top plate 2! and bottom plate 22. Thecasing further comprises the outer side plates 23,

which, with the inwardly sloping guide plates 24 and the rear plates 25,house and guard the supporting and driving mechanism for the apparatus,and the outer top plate 26, joined to inner top plate 2| at the frontend thereof by the downwardly sloping top guide plate 21. The casing isdesirably, though not necessarily, constructed of steel sheets ofadequate guage to provide requisite strength and rigidity to theapparatus.

Each of the side plates 20 and 23 is provided with a central opening 28.The central openings 28 of the outer side plates 23 are bridged by thevertical bars 29, suitably afiixed thereto, between which is rigidlymounted the transverse shaft 30, suitably journalled in the bearing caps32 mounted on the bars 29, as may be best seen in Figure 5. Thecentrifugal pump or blower wheel, indicated generally as 33, isrotatably mounted upon the shaft by means of the ball bearings 34 inplace thereon. The blower Wheel 33 comprises the end rings 35 and thecentral ring 36, by means of which aplurality of transverse vanes 37 aresupported. The vanes 31 are desirably inclined relative to the axialdirection, and may be of herringbone or V configuration, positioned torotate with the apices thereof trailing, and comprise two vane sectionsjoined at the central ring 36 and each inclined relative to the axialdirection at a suitable angle, 20 having been found satisfactory. Thevanes desirably are also forwardly inclined from the radial directionfor cutting efficiency, an angle of sub stantially 20 satisfactorilyeffecting this result. The configuration of the vanes is best shown inFigures 2, 5, and 9.

The blower wheel 33, together with the seal plates 38 and supportspiders 3Q, constitute a blower wheel assembly. The support spiders 39comprise the inwardly extending hubs 40, adapted to enclose the bearings34 in bearing relationship. Fixed to one of the support spiders is thepulley 42, and integrally incorporated in the other of said supportspiders and extending outwardly therefrom is the sprocket 43. The blowerwheel assembly elements are clearly shown in Figure 6, and the manner oftheir assembly to end rings 35 of the blower wheel 33 is best shown inFigures 9 and 12, wherein it will be seen that the seal plates 38 arejoined to the arms of the support spiders by the screws 44, and the sealplates 38 and the support spiders39 are joined to the end rings 35 ofthe blower wheelby the screws Q5. The blower wheel assembly, comprisingthe aforementioned elements, constitutes a u the vanes 31 thereof is thegenerally cylindrical baffle plate 46, which is substantiallycoextensive in length with the blower wheel 33. Bafiie plate 46 issupported by the arms 4'! extending from the collars 4B, rigidly mountedon shaft 30, as by the set screws 49 (Figure 8). Baffle plate A5incorporates the longitudinal Vshap-ed opening 59,

desirably extending the entire length'of the baffie plate, and disposedto correspond in direction to that of the blower wheel vanes.

The front of the casing, specifically the trailing edge of inner topplate 2|, inner side plates 28, and the leading edge of bottom plate 22,defines the inlet opening 52. Bottom plate 22, inner side plates 29, andthe leading edge of inner top plate 2| define the exhaust opening 53,radially displaced from inlet opening 52. The bottom plate 22, in theembodiment shown, merges smoothly into the exhaust opening 53, but may,if desired, follow generally the contour of blower wheel 33 for adistance, and then be joined to a more sharply defined exhaust opening.The

casing blade 54 may be pivotally mounted at the leading edge of bottomplate 22, generally disposed in the forward direction, whereby its outeredge constitutes not only an extension of the leading edge of the bottomplate, but also the trailing edge of the inlet opening 52. The casingblade 54 is substantially coextensive in length with blower wheel 33 andis supported by means of the end pins 55 extending through andjournalled in the outer side plates 23. Outside the outer side plates,the arms 56 are fixed to and extend from the end pins 55. Lugs 51,welded or otherwise suitably attached to the outer surfaces of the outerside plates, incorporate the threaded positioning holes 58, b means ofwhich and the bolts 59, the arms may be adjustably fixed in a The innerand outer side plates on either side, together with the inwardly slopingguide plates 2:2 and the rear plates 25, constitute a housing for thesupporting and driving mechanism of the apparatus. This housing not onlyprotects the supporting and driving mechanism from the introductionthereinto of the material being worked upon, but also serves as a guardto obviate the entanglement of loose clothing and the like therein.Within these housings, a rear wheel 63 is mounted adjacent each end ofthe rear axle 60, and engaged thereto in free wheelin relationship by aclutch sprin 65 one end of which extends and is fixed to the rear wheelas by the screwi-IE (see Figure 5) Also within these housings a frontwheel is freely rotatably mounted on each of the front axle sections:52. The wheels 63 and 8% may conveniently be in the form of ship b thecleated endless belts ti. by means of which the apparatus is'supportedand propelled.

The cleated endless belts 6;? have been found to be particularlysuitable for use on uneven surfaces, such as snow or grass-coveredareas." Obviously, the endless belts til may be replaced by rubber-tiredwheels or an y other suitable supporting devices. When pulleys areemployed, suitably mounted scraper blades 55 maybe provided to preventaccumulation within the V of the pulleys of snow, grass or othermaterial, The scraper blades may be mounted in any convenient fashion,as on the vertical bars 29, as shown inFigurelO. 7

Inside the inner side plates 2b, the arms 68 project rearwardly andupwardly from therear axle til, supporting between them the crossbar 69.The handle '59 extends rearwardly and upwardly from crossbar =55, and bymeans of the hand grips H at the outer end thereof the apparatus-may bemanually guided and driven.

The machine may be operated by any motive power means, as well as byhand, and in the embodiment shown is provided with the conventionalgasoline engine ?3, conveniently mounted on the outer top plate 25 ofthecasing. Power take off from the engine is is provided by the shaft Il and the driving sprocket l5 fixed thereto. Driving sprocket isconnected to the sprocket d3 of the blower wheel assembly in drivinrelationship by the chain it. The rotary motion of the blowerwheelassembly is transmitted by means of its pulley 62 and the belt ill tothe clutch pulley "f3, rotatably mounted on shaft 79 of the clutchhousing, indicated gen-. erally as til. The clutch housing Si best shownin Figures 10, 14: and 15, comprises two generally L-shaped sideportions $2, joined at the ends of one leg thereof by the transversesection 83. The housing is pivotally mounted to the inner and outer sideplates of the casing adjacent the ends of the other legs of said sideportions, as by the bolts In this manner, it will be seen, the clutchhousing is freely pivotal relative to the casing side plates above thebolts 8%. The flexible pull wire 25 is fixed to the transverse section83 of the clutch housing, and extends through the casing, guided andenclosed by the flexible conduit to the operating handle 8?,conveniently mounted adjacent one of the hand gri s ii of handleDisplacement of the operating lever $2 toward the hand grip H, it willbe understood, effects displacement of the pull wire 85 andcorresponding pivotal movement of the clutch housing in a directiongenerally away ,ground by only a small distance.

from the transverse shaft 30. A. return spring =88: encloses thepullwire 85 between transverse section 83 and the casing, whereby .theclutch housing is urged in the general direction of shaft 30.

Also rotatably mounted on the olutchshaft I9 and fixed to the clutchpulley 78. is the sprocket 99 which is linked in drivin relationship tothe sprocket90, suitably pinned to the rear axle 69,

by the'chain 92.

Extending generally upwardly from the exhaust openin 53 is the exhaustduct 93, merging from rectangular cross section at the lower end thereofinto circular cross-sectional shape at the upper end thereof. Exhaustduct 93 at its upper end is formed into the outstandinglip 94, by meansof which the intermediate section 95 is engagedand rotatably supportedthereon. The

.intermediate section 95 is formed to merge from circularcross-sectional shape at its lower end to substantially square crosssection at its upper end, and is provided with a plurality of theoutstanding knobs 96, by which it may be axially rotated relative to theexhaust duct 93. A duct elbow 91 i suitably secured tow the upper end ofintermediate section 95, and is provided with a pluralityof internaldirectional vanes 98, adapted to effect and maintainuuniform fluiddistribution over the cross section of the duct'elbow. The lower endportions of the internal directional vanes 98extend downwardly intointermediate section 95, and are of V or fishtail configuration, asshown in dotted lines in Figure 2. -The duct elbow 91 is desirablycomposed of two parts, the inner elbow section 91' fixed. to the top ofintermediate section 95, and the outerelbow section 91" hingedly securedto the upper edge of the inner section, as by hinges 99. Suitablelatches I areprovided on the elbow section sides to secure the sectionsin endto end relationship, when desired.

The operation of the apparatus will now be described in detail. Theembodiment .illustrated is particularly constructed and adapted for theremoval of snow, leaves and grass. For these purposes, for example, ablower wheel of 11 inches outer diameter, 8.25 inches'innerdiameter and18 inches length has been found to be suitable. In utilizing theapparatus for the removal of snow, the casing blade 54 is first adjustedand fixed in position so that its outer end diverges widely from theblower wheel vanes and clears the This adjustment is simply accomplishedby aligning the arms 56 with the uppermost of the holes 58,:and lookingthe arms in that position by means of the bolts 59. The source of motivepower is then energized; as by starting the engine 73, and the speedthereof adjusted to turn the blower wheel at approximately 2,000revolutions per minute. This speed of revolution, as related to a blowerwheel of the dimensions above set forth by way of example, efiects avane tip speed of approximately ninety-six feet per second, which hasbeen found to be entirely satisfactory for the removal of snow. The highvane tip. speed results in a comminuting or cutting action on the snowbeing worked upon, thereby obviating the possibility of large chunks ofsnow or ice beingtaken into the apparatus, with danger of resultantdamage thereto. The cutting or slicing action of the blower wheel alsotends to avoid the possibility of clogging, as the effect thereof is toseparate the material into slivers or filaments of snow cushioned byvintervening layers of air.

The device is equally suitable for operation upon wet or dry material,without clogging or other impairment of functioning. It will be obviousthat the blower wheel dimensions and rotational speed above set forth byway of example are not critical, but may be altered as desired within avery wide range.

Withthe blower wheel 33 directly operated by the engine 13, the machinemay beguided and propelled into operating position by means of thehandle 16. The inwardly sloping guide plates 24 and thedownwardlysloping guide plate 21 function to guide the snow into the inlet opening52 of the device as the machine moves forward. The device may now bepropelled into the snow along the chosen path manuallybymeans ofth'ehandle 10, or, through the medium of the clutch device, the apparatusmay be propelled by the engine 13. This is accomplished, in theembodiment shown, by moving the operating lever fll inwardlytoward thehand grip 'Il,by means of whichpull wire is displaced and theclutchassembly.

, Sprocket 89, rotating with clutch pulley 18, effects, through themedium of chain'HE, corresponding rotation of the sprocket 99, wherebyrotation of the rear axle 6B is caused. Rotation of the rear axle 69Withinthe clutch-springs in the direction indicatedby the arrows causestightening of the clutch springsandengagement of the axle thereby in thewell known manner,

whereby the rear wheels 63 are engaged and driven. Rotation of the rearwheels tit through the mediumof the cleated endless beltst'l thereuponefiects forward motion of the machine.

anism. With the clutch mechanism disengaged, the machine may bepropelled in a forward direction,'the rear wheels 63.and the clutchsprings 64 being capable of rotating freely in that direction withoutengaging the axle 65. .As will be recognized, the clutch springli lfunction in this sense as free-wheeling units, and also permit theapparatus to be freely turned and guided at all times. The clutchmechanism described has been found to be simple and effective, althoughit will be apparent that any equivalent clutch mechanism may beemployed,if desired.

As the machine .moves forward, snow is guided into contact with therotating blower wheel 33.

The blower wheel vanes 31, rotating at high speed,

described has been found to be highly effective,

with minimum power consumption. The snow comminuted and engaged by thevanes is :prevented from penetrating to the interior of the blower wheelby the baiiieplatelii, andthe snow is carried downwardly-and rearwardlybetween the blower wheel vanes.

The blowerwheel 33 functions in the well uhv derstood manner. in whichair is, drawn inwardly from the sides thereof in an axial direction'sirable, as shown in Figure 11.

through the central openings 28 in the side plates of the casing, andimpelled outwardly through and by the vanes thereof in all radialdirections. The bafile plate 45, however, has the effect of blocking offthe blower wheel at all points except adjacent the longitudinal opening50. Air is impelled radially outwardly at high velocity through thelongitudinal opening 50 by the blower wheel vanes 31, by means of whichsnow or other material carried between said vanes is entrained andexpelled outwardly. The outward movement of the comminuted material isobviously contributed to also by centrifugal force. Exhaust opening 53coinciding generally with the longitudinal baffle opening 50, the highvelocity stream of air and entrained material is impelled into andguided upwardly by the exhaust duct 93, and thence through theintermediate section 95 and the duct elbow 91. By means of knobs 96, theintermediate section and the duct elbo'w may be directed to either sideat any desired horizontal angle, and the diluent of the machine socontrolled. The vertical direction of the fluid-material stream may alsobe varied by means of the sectional structure of duct elbow 91. With theouter elbow section 91" latched securely to the inner elbow section 91,the stream is directed downwardly at an angle of approximately 30 belowhorizontal. By unlatching the outer elbow section and allowing it tofloat on the hinges 99, a trajectory angle ranging up to 45 abovehorizontal is attained, depending on the velocity of the stream. Maximumtrajectory angle is obtainable by swinging the outer elbow section 9'!"entirely out of the path of the stream, to the position indicated bydotted lines in Figure 3. The directional vanes 98 serve to maintainefficient flow of air and material through the duct elbow 91, andeffectively prevent piling up of material therein. Material is preventedfrom collecting on the leading edges of the vanes by reason of their Vconfiguration, whereby they present shear action to materials in thefluid stream. It will be evident that means other than the exhaust duct93 and duct elbow 91 may be provided to control the air and materialstream in any desired manner.

The introduction of the high speed air stream into the exhaust duct, itwill be understood, has the efiect of producing a low pressure areabetween bottom plate 22 and the blower wheel, which is effective toproduce a suction effect at the leading edge of bottom plate 22. By thismeans material not engaged by the blower wheel vanes is entrained bysuction and guided over the casing blade 54 and bottom plate 22 up intothe exhaust duct 93. The inner top plate 2!, it will be noted, isrelatively close fitting about the outer edges of the blower wheelvanes, at least at the leading edge thereof, to effect a clean cutoff ofthe air and material stream, whereas the bottom plate 22 is preferably,but not necessarily, spaced therefrom, so that the aforesaid efifectivesuction is confined in its operation to the trailing edge of the inletopening 52. To further effeet the desired sharp cutoff of the air andmaterial stream, a sharply defined separation point between the exhaustduct and the leading edge of the inner top plate has been found to bede- It is inherent in the functioning of the apparatus, it will benoted, thatthe material displaced is handled one time only, and the pathof material flow is continuous and smooth, without abrupt change ofdirection.

The apparatus may be employed to cut and remove grass by the simpleexpedient of adjusting the casing blade 54 to the opposite end of itstravel, that is by aligning arms 56 with the lowest of the holes 59 andlocking the arms in that position by means of the bolts 59, whereby thecasing blade 54 is brought into close adjacency with the outer edges ofthe blower wheel vanes 3'1. As will be readily understood, the casingblade need not contact the blower wheel vanes, but may be spacedslightly therefrom. As previously described, the severed grass iscarried to and entrained in the high speed air stream issuing throughthe baffle opening 50, and impelled thereby upwardly through the exhaustduct 93. 'A somewhat lower vane tip speed than that employed in the caseof snow removal has been found to be adequate for entirelysatisfactorygrass cutting, a rotational speed of 1,200 revolutions per minute havingbeen found suitable with a blower wheel of the dimensions previously setforth by way of example. This rotational speed results in exceedinglyfine 'grass cuttings, which maybe dispersed widespread by means of theduct elbow 91 to serve as an'active fertilizing mulch, or the duct elbowmay be replaced by suitable collection means connected to the exhaustduct, and the grass cuttings collected. Any air-permeable collectionmeans may be employed, a burlap bag being entirely suitable.

The apparatus may be employed to comminute and collect leaves, by fixingthe casing blade 54 in intermediate position, and operating in thepreviously described manner. In the case of leaves, the effectiveness ofthe apparatus is due to the suction action at the trailing edge of theinlet opening 52 to a greater degree than in the case of snow, saidaction being occasioned by the low pressure area induced above thebottom plate 22 by the high speed air stream issuing through thelongitudinal baffle opening 59'an'd directed into the exhaust duct 93.In the utilization of the apparatus for the collection and removal ofleaves, the provision of suitable air-permeable collection means on orin place of the duct elbow 91 is obviously desirable.

For use with a blower wheel of the configuration shown, a substantiallysimilarly formed baifle opening 50 has been found to be suitable. Asclearly shown in Figure 7, the baflle opening is also V-shaped and isdisposed to correspond in direction to that of the blower wheel vanes.

It will be understood that the blower wheel need not be of theconfiguration illustrated, but

may be of any other well known or desired design.

The inlet opening 52 may be relatively large, as is desirable for theremoval of snow, or may be of considerably smaller size when employedfor other purposes. The baffle opening 50 need not be V-shaped, but may,as desired, be otherwise shaped. Reduction in size of the baflleopening, it will be understood, reduces air flow, and thereby the powerconsumption of the blower wheel. The area of the baffle opening may bevaried as desired in accordance with the material being handled andother variables. While a bafiie plate of generally cylindrical form,closely fitting within the blower wheel, is preferred, it will berecognized that the baifie plate may be of other tubular shapes.

The exhaust opening 53 preferably conforms generally to the baflieopening 50, and may be varied in shape and size therewith according tothe type and volume of material being handled and the velocity requiredin the exhaust stream. The radial displacement between the inlet openingand the exhaust opening is in no sense critical, but may be varied up toan angle of 180 or 9 more, in the direction of blower wheel rotation, asmay be convenient. The velocity and volume of the exhaust stream maybeadjustably varied, if desired, by the provision of adjustable bafiiesfor the central openings 28 of the side plates, or

by the provision of adjustable means for varying the size of the baffleopening Similarly, the baffle plate may be adjustably rotated withregard to the exhaust opening 53 to effect adjustable relativepositioning thereof, whereby maximum efficiency under all operationalconditions may be attained.

The apparatus of the present invention is not limited to the handling ofsnow, leaves and grass, but is adapted to be utilized effectively fordiverse purposes. The invention may be employed to distribute seed orfertilizer, by the simple expedient of afiixing a hopper to the inletopening 52, to feed seed, fertilizer or other material thereinto in acontrolled manner. Similarly, the machine may be employed for thecollection or gathering of dispersed materials, such as seed or grain,for delivery into suitable storage or packaging facilities. Theinvention may be similarly employed to pick up particulate material fromstorage piles or bins, for delivery in a controlled manner. Theapparatus of the invention is also capable of use for the comminutionand controlled delivery of materials such as Wood scraps. The apparatusis not limited to the use of air as a fluid impelling medium, but mayoperate in other fluids.

It will thus be seen, that there has been provided by this invention astructure in which the various objects hereinbefore set forth, togetherwith many practical advantages, are successfully achieved. As variouspossible embodiments may be made of the mechanical features of the aboveinvention, all without departing from the scope thereof, it is to beunderstood that all matter hereinbefore set forth or shown in theaccompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative, and not in alimiting sense.

We claim:

1. Material handling apparatus comprising: a supporting frame; acylindrical casing mounted on said frame and having an opening in atleast one end thereof; a shaft fixedly mounted on said frame andextending axially of said casing; a cylindrical baiiie fixedly mountedon said shaft coaxially Within said casing and of less diameter than thelatter, said baffle having an opening in at least one end thereofregistering with said casing end opening; and a centrifugal blower wheelrotatably mounted on said shaft and having impelling vanes on theperiphery thereof extending between said casing and said baffle, saidcasing having circumferentially spaced inlet and exhaust peripheralopenings and said bafile having a peripheral opening registering withsaid casing exhaust opening, whereby material entering said inletopening is comminuted by said vanes and carried thereby past saidexhaust opening for entrainment in an air stream issuing through saidperipheral baffle opening, said wheel, and said exhaust opening.

2. Material handling apparatus comprising: a supporting frame; acylindrical casing mounted on said frame and havin an opening in atleast one end thereof; a cylindrical baffle of less diameter than saidcasing and having an opening in at least one end thereof; means fixedlymounting said baffle coaxially within said casing to form an annularspace therebetween and with said baffle end opening registering withsaid casing end opening; a centrifugal blower wheel having im pellingvanes on the periphery thereof, the exterior diameter of said wheelbeing less than the casing diameter and the interior diameter of saidwheel greater than the bafiie diameter; and means rotatably mountingsaid wheel coaxially within said casing for rotation of said vanes insaid annular space, said casing having spaced inlet and exhaustperipheral openings and said baffle having a peripheral openingregistering with said casing exhaust opening, whereby material enteringsaid inlet opening is comminuted by said vanes and carried thereby pastsaid exhaust opening for entrainment in an air stream issuing throughsaid peripheral baffle opening,

said wheel, and said exhaust opening.

3. The structure defined in claim 2 including annular end plates on saidwheel of a radial thickness substantially equal to the radial distancebetween the baffle and the casing,

4. The structure defined in claim 2 in which the casing is spacedradially from said wheel from the trailing edge of the inlet opening tothe leading edge of the exhaust opening.

5. The structure defined in claim 2 including a blade member mounted atits back edge for pivotal adjustment about a longitudinal axis parallelto the wheel axis and radially spaced from said wheel, the leading edgeof the exhaust opening substantially coinciding with said blade pivotalaxis and the front edge of said blade constituting the trailing edge ofthe inlet opening.

6. The structure defined in claim 2 in which the vanes are inclined,from the radial direction, in the direction of rotation of the wheel.

'7. The structure defined in claim 2 in which the vanes aresubstantially V-shaped in longitudinal view.

8. The structure defined in claim 2. in which the vanes aresubstantially V-shaped in longitudinal view and the longitudinal edgesof the baffle peripheral opening are V-shaped in conformance with thelongitudinal configuration of said vanes.

9. The structure defined in claim 2 including ground-engaging rotatablemeans supporting the frame for movement over the surface of the groundwith the wheel axis disposed horizontally, and power means on said framefor propelling the frame and driving the blower wheel.

10. The structure defined in claim 2 including rotatable ground-engagingmeans supporting the frame for movement over the surface of "the groundwith the wheel axis in horizontal position and the casing inlet openingfacing in the direction of frame movement, and wall means on said framedefining a funnel-like mouth for guiding material into the casing inletopening.

11. Material handling apparatus comprising: a supporting frame; acylindrical casing mounted on said frame and having an opening in atleast one end thereof; a cylindrical baflie of less diameter than saidcasing and having an opening in at least one end thereof; means fixedlymounting said baffle coaxially within said casing to form an annularspace therebetween and with said bafile end opening registering withsaid casing end opening; a centrifugal blower wheel having a centerring, two end rings, and a plurality of circumferentially-spacedimpelling vanes extending from said center ring to said end rings, saidvanes being inclined, from the radial direction, in the direction ofrotation of said wheel and being further inclined from said center ringto said end rings in the direction of rotation of said wheel; meansrotatably mounting said wheel coaxially within said casing for rotationof said vanes in said annular space, said casing havingcircumferentially-spaoed longitudinally-extending inlet and exhaustperipheral openings and said baflie having a longitudinal peripheralopening registering with said casing exhaust opening, the longitudinaledges of said peripheral baifie open,- ing being V-shaped to conform totheinclination of said vanes, and said casing being spaced radially fromsaid wheel from the trailing. edge of said inlet opening to the leadingedge of said exhaust opening, whereby material entering-said inletopening is comminuted by said vanes and aspirated into an air streamissuing through said peripheral baflie opening, said wheel, and saidexhaust opening.

SANFORD A. SHULER- JR. CLARENCE E. CROFOOT.

12 REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the fileof this patent:

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